Electric switch actuating mechanism



Aug. 30, 1960 c. c. PETRINO 2,951,138

ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 17', 1958 ELECTRIC SWITCH ACTUATING MEC M Columbus C. Petrirro, 409 Fenno St, Revere, Mass. Filed Oct. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 767,843

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) parting a linear motion to the same switch actuator such as by pressing rather than rotating the actuator.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved electric switch actuating mechanism which is operable either by rotation of or pressure on the switch actuator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved electric push button actuating mechanism which is operable by a movement of the actuator in one direction or the other. 1

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved electric switch actuating mechanism which is operable by rotation in either direction from a neutral position in which the switch mechanism will reset to the neutral position upon release of the switch actuator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In accordance with one form of the invention, the

actuator element is directly coupled to a rotatable piston having a pin thereon cooperating with a V-shaped groove in a stationary sleeve surrounding the piston and which, when actuated in a linear direction against the bias of a spring, closes the contacts of the push button. The

V-shaped groove is located with the apex towards the switch actuator such that rotation of the actuator in either direction will produce through the camming action of the pin and the V-shaped groove a linear motion of the piston in a direction against the spring bias and the push button so as to close the switch contacts. The spring will reset the actuator to the neutral position when the actuator is released. The apex of the V-shaped groove extends in an axial direction a distance sufficient to enable the push button to be actuated by linear pressure against the switch actuator in addition to rotation in either direction.

For a better understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing a switch actuating mechanism embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view showing the various components in a switch actuating mechanism embodying the invention with the piston rotated (for clarity; and

Figure 3 is an elevation and top view of the piston cylinder of the illustrated embodiment of the invention. Referring to the drawings, the switch 1 having terminals 2 and 3 for connection to an electrical circuit to be controlled (not shown) is positioned within housing 4 2,951,138 Patented Aug. 30, 1960 at one end thereof. The positioning of the switch 1 is facilitated by a longitudinal groove 5 extending axially along one edge of collar 6 cooperating with the ridge 7 extending axially along the inner surface of housing 4. The collar 6 of switch 1 is retained by shoulder 8 with the terminals 2. and 3 extending beyond the housing 4 and the push button 9 located within the housing.

The switch 1 is secured within the housing 4 by piston cylinder or sleeve 10 disposed therein and having an axial groove 11 cooperating with ridge 7 of housing 4 to prevent rotation therebetween. Axial displacement of switch 1 is prevented by collar 6 of switch 1 being positioned between end 12 of piston cylinder 10 and shoulder 8 of housing 4. A V-shaped cam slot 13 extends around the piston cylinder 10 with the apex 13 of the V toward the end remote from the switch 1. A coil spring 14 is positioned within piston cylinder 10 and is adapted to be compressed between the face of switch collar 6 surrounding push button 9 and a switch actuator piston 15.

The switch actuator piston 15 comprises a cylindrical portion 16, a shank portion 17, and an end portion 18. The cylindrical portion 16 of switch actuator piston 15 has an aperture 19 therein extending transverse to the axis thereof and adapted to receive a pin 20. The pin or projection 20 extends beyond one side of the cylindrical portion 16 to engage the V-shaped cam slot 13 of piston cylinder 16 The switch 1, piston cylinder 10, coil spring 14, and switch actuator piston 15 are retained within the housing 4 by shoulder 8 at one end and pedestfl plate 21 at the other end. Pedestal plate 21 has an aperture 22 therein adapted to enable shank portion 17 of piston cylinder 10 to pass loosely through. Axial movement of piston cylinder 15 away firom the switch 1 is prevented by contact of shoulder 23 of piston 10 with pedestal plate 21. Pedestal plate 21 is firmly secured to housing 4 by screws 24 and 25 passing loosely through apertures 26 and 27 in plate 21 disposed on either side of aperture 22 and screwed into threaded openings 28 and 29 of flange port-ion 30 of housing 4. The end portion 18 of switch piston 15 has a threaded aperture 31 extending axially therein and a flatted portion 32 adapted to cooperate with the fiatted portion 32' of aperture 33 of switch actuator 34. The switch actuator 34 is retained in position by screw 35 passing through aperture 33 and engaging threaded aperture 31.

The switch actuator 34 is adapted for manual operation and may conveniently be in the form of a miniature ships wheel as a decorative design when the switch assembly is utilized for such switch actuator. The entire mounted through use of one associated screws 37.

In operation, the switch 1 may be actuated by rotation of switch actuator 34 in either direction or by merely depressing the switch actuator. As a doorbell switch actuator, it is important that pressure on the actuator 34 operate the switch since many persons might not realize that the ships wheel actuator 34 may be rotated in order to ring the bell and may attempt to merely depress the actuator. Also, upon rotation of switch actuator 34 in either direction, piston 15 is actuated towards push button 9.

Rotation of actuator 34 in either direction rotates piston 15 .and pin 20 secured thereto within the V-shaped cam slot or groove 13 of stationary piston cylinder 10. The cooperation of pin 20 with V-shaped slot 13 provides a camming action in which piston 15 is rotated and also moves linearly towards switch 1 so as to depress push button 9 and close the contacts associated with leads 2 and 3 thereby ringing a doorbell or closing some other electrical circuit (not shown). Upon release of switch unit may conveniently be or more openings 36 and applications as a doorbell actuator 34, the coil spring 14 aided by the normal spring action of switch 1 pushes the piston 15 away from push button '9 and a reverse camming action between cam 21 and cam slot 13 returns the actuator to its neutral position wherein the pin 20 is located at the apex of the V-shaped slot 13. The diameter of the pin 20 is made smaller than the axial distance of the apex 13 of V- shaped slot 13 such that linear pressure on switch actuator 34 will enable the direct linear movement of piston 15. The axial distance A (see Figure 3) is sufiiciently greater than the diameter of pin 14- to enable pin 20 to be moved axially in the apex 313 so that piston 15 actuates push button 9 to operate the switch 1.

It is therefore apparent that the switch ll may be actuated by either a rotary motion in either direction of the switch actuator 34 or a linear motion of the actuator 34. Also, when the actuator is released, the resiliency of the coil spring 14 aided by that of the switch 1 will return the switch to its neutral position wherein the pin 2i) is located at the end of the V-shaped slot 13 closest to the switch actuator 34.

As is best shown in Figure 3, it is desirable to have a second V-shaped slot 13" in piston cylinder 16 such that pin 20 may extend through piston 15 and be engaged by the diametrically opposite slots 13 and 13'.

Therefore, while a particular embodiment of the subject invention has been shown and described herein, this is in the nature of description rather than limitation, and will occur to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, and combinations may be made within the province of the appended claims and without departing either in spirit or scope from this invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A rotary motion-to-linear motion switch actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable member having a first end adapted to be rotated and the other end adapted to actuate a switch, said rotatable member being resiliently biased in a direction of said first end and having a projection extending transverse to the axis of rotation, a stationary member surrounding said rotatable member and having a groove therein adapted to be engaged by and cooperate with said projection, said groove being V-shaped with the apex located remote from said other end whereby rotation of said rotatable member in either direction through the camming action of said projection and groove will produce a linear motion of said rotatable member in a direction against the said bias.

2. A rotary-to-linear push button actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable member having a first end adapted to be rotated and the other end adapted to actuate a push button, said rotatable member being resiliently biased in the direction of said first end and having a projection extending transverse to the axis of rotation, a stationary sleeve member surrounding said rotatable member and having a groove therein adapted to be engaged by and cooperate with said projection, said groove being V- shaped with the apex located remote from said other end of said movable member whereby rotation of said rotatable member in either direction will produce through the camming action between said groove and said projection motion of said movable member in a direction against said bias, and said groove having an opening at said apex in the direction of said axis so as to enable the linear actuation of said movable member against the said bias to actuate said push button.

3. A rotary-to-linear push button actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable piston member having a first end adapted to be rotated and the other end adapted to actuate a push button, said rotatable member being resiliently biased in the direction of said first end by a coil spring between said piston and said push button and having a pin extending transverse to the axis of rotation, a stationary sleeve member surrounding said rotatable member and having a cam groove therein adapted to be engaged by and cooperate with said pin, said groove being V-shaped with the apex located remote from said other end of said movable member whereby rotation of said rotatable member in either direction will produce through the camming action between said groove and said pin motion of said movable member in an axial direction against said bias, and said groove having an opening at said apex in the direction of said axes so as to enable the linear actuation of said movable member against the said bias to actuate said push button.

4. A rotary-to-linear push button actuating mechanism comprising a housing having an opening therein and an axial ridge along the inner surface, a rotatable piston member having a first end adapted to be rotated and the other end adapted to actuate a push button, said rotatable member being resiliently biased in the direction of said first end by a coil spring between said piston and said push button and having a pin extending transverse to the axis of rotation, a stationary sleeve member surrounding said rotatable member and having a cam groove therein adapted to be engaged by and cooperate with said pin, said sleeve member being disposed within said housing and having an axial slot on the outside adapted to cooperate with the ridge of said housing and prevent rotation therebetween, said cam groove being V-shaped with the apex located remote from said other end of said movable member whereby rotation of said rotatable member in either direction will produce through the camming action between said groove and said pin motion of said movable member in an axial direction against said bias, and said cam groove having an opening at said apex in the direction of said axis so as to enable the linear actuation of said movable member against the said bias to actuate said push button.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,800,806 Sangster July 30, 1957 

